Chapter 326: Speed + Attack vs. Defense + Explosion!
There are few in this world like Jiang Lin, who can elevate a high-level Xuan class Dou Technique like the Eight Extremes Collapse to a height that is beyond the scope of what it should be. Nalan Yanran's punches and kicks only caused Xiao Yan to feel pain. If it were Jiang Lin himself, however, at the same cultivation level and with the same power, Jiang Lin would only need one chance to strike. By seizing that single opportunity, his fist, which contained the power of the Eight Extremes Collapse in its perfected form, would appear right in front of Xiao Yan's heart. The tremendous force would surge like a tsunami, and any weakness in Xiao Yan's physique would result in a fatal blow.
For Jiang Lin, his view of this fantasy world was that most of the Dou Qi cultivators were nothing more than mecha warriors driving machines called 'Dou Qi.' While they appeared capable of moving mountains and chasing the moon, they were in reality just humans who created their own "human combat techniques," such as the Eight Extremes Collapse. Even if something could cause Dou Qi energy to vibrate, it could easily obliterate the fragile humans below the Dou Zong level!
Dou Saint: Hmm? Isn't this our opening move? Don't even talk about Dou Zong; even a Dou Zun, if they have a weakness, will be wiped out.
Jiang Lin had imagined that in the future, he might develop a long-range shell that could be teleported onto the battlefield. After the shockwave passed, the world would be at peace.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
"Too slow! I admit your turtle shell is tough, but your speed is too slow!" Nalan Yanran's sword slashed into Xiao Yan, leaving a gash on his armor as the Qinglan Sword cut across it. Xiao Yan attempted to retaliate but was skillfully evaded by Nalan Yanran, who even kicked him in the chest while evading. Xiao Yan immediately felt his breath become labored.
For some reason, Xiao Yan seemed to see Jiang Lin's shadow in Nalan Yanran. This sensation of having all his punches and kicks completely seen through made Xiao Yan feel utterly powerless in close combat with Nalan Yanran.
'Back then, Lin Ge seemed to... No! This woman is simply fast! Lin Ge was able to perceive my actions!' In just a few breaths, Nalan Yanran's Qinglan Sword had created several serious gaps in Xiao Yan's armor. Her piercing punches and kicks also made Xiao Yan uncomfortable, but he couldn't keep up with Nalan Yanran's speed. Even with the explosive speed of the Bursting Step, when Xiao Yan tried to land an Eight Extremes Collapse on Nalan Yanran, the result was unsatisfactory.
Xiao Yan's soul power could sense Nalan Yanran's speed, but his body couldn't keep up with the rapid short-range combat. Nalan Yanran's body wasn't much weaker than Xiao Yan's either. With the added protection of the Qinglan Armor, Xiao Yan could only cause significant damage to Nalan Yanran if he struck her vital points.
When Xiao Yan sparred with Jiang Lin, he could feel Jiang Lin's punches and kicks shift in speed, a combination of motion and stillness. His senses would turn into a joke because he couldn't avoid Jiang Lin's quick legs or his slow punches. He even had the illusion that he was the one who actively put his head into Jiang Lin's fists.
However, with Nalan Yanran, Xiao Yan only felt pure speed. As a pharmacist with a powerful soul, he could sense Nalan Yanran's speed, but his body was just slightly slower, always a beat behind. This allowed Nalan Yanran to calmly evade and counterattack.
"If it weren't for this heavy armor slowing me down, would you be able to dodge my attacks so easily?" Even though Xiao Yan was being ruthlessly beaten by Nalan Yanran, he wasn't going to lose in terms of momentum. However, Xiao Yan's words held some truth. The set of armor Jiang Lin made for Xiao Yan, called the Heavenly Fire Battle Armor, was a heavy armor template. That was why the Qinglan Sword, which had taken Yuan Bao several months to make and was as strong as a fifth-level Xuan artifact, couldn't cut through the Heavenly Fire Battle Armor, which Jiang Lin had made in only a week or two. The reason was simple—this armor was thick.
Jiang Lin knew that if he had given Xiao Yan light armor, he wouldn't be able to match Nalan Yanran's speed. Though Xiao Yan had learned the Bursting Step, it couldn't be used in mid-air. If Xiao Yan didn't have enough protection, he would end up like when Yun Yun nearly decapitated the Purple Crystal Winged Lion King. Jiang Lin couldn't afford that kind of mistake.
Yun Yun had already proven that with a speed superior to others, combined with extreme offensive power, she could lead the largest sects of the Gama Empire, even with a Three-Star Dou Huang's cultivation. With the Four-Leaf Green Cicada Wings, which exceeded human limits, Yun Yun became the most formidable Dou Huang assassin in the Gama Empire!
Yuan Bao was willing to make the Qinglan set for Nalan Yanran because he harbored the idea of nurturing a future top assassin.
Therefore, Jiang Lin couldn't let Xiao Yan rush in and lose his head, only to throw the Buddha's Wrath Fire Lotus in a fit of rage. Heavy armor and the Bursting Step were the best combination for Xiao Yan, and it was also Jiang Lin's most preferred configuration.
Thick armor, thick blood, high attack, targeted attacks, and close-range moves like lightning strikes, all with the strong backing of archers—this was the simple and unpretentious approach.
If an assassin gets close, it's a headache for them. If they don't care about me, then I'll focus my energy on them.
Enemy: Someone's hacking! I'm done, I'm done!
"Heh! Talking big, are you? Take off that heavy armor if you're so confident. Without it, I could kill you with just three strikes!" Taking advantage of Nalan Yanran's words, Xiao Yan threw a punch like thunder, an Eight Extremes Collapse aimed at her chest, but it was blocked by her long sword. Although it caused some numbness, with a little recovery, it was no big deal.
"Why don't you throw away that long sword? Your fists and feet are hidden in the sword light. What's so proud of that?" Xiao Yan definitely didn't dare remove the Heavenly Fire Battle Armor; his life was being saved by it right now. In the future, he would need such armor that focuses on defense. Now Xiao Yan could understand the fear the Purple Crystal Winged Lion King had for Yun Yun's Qinglan Sword. He was afraid of it too.
During the fight, Xiao Yan tried using his Green Lotus Earth Core Fire against Nalan Yanran, but he found it ineffective. The problem was, unless the strange fire went into a frenzy, he couldn't rely on the Green Lotus Earth Core Fire to kill enemies of the same level. His enemies would just stand still, and the moment they used their Dou Qi to form a shield, the Green Lotus Earth Core Fire would have to spread a bit before it even reached their body, and by that time, it would be blocked.
Thud!
"I hate this speed!" Xiao Yan yelled in anger, swinging the strange fire-heavy weight ruler to knock Nalan Yanran away. He crouched down slightly, and with a bang, he leapt into the air, wings of light unfurled.
(END CHAPTER)
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